Friday's Fancies: Labor Day

Labor Day Weekend, I am ever so happy to see you! Not only does LDW mean a 3 1/2 day weekend for me, it also means 3 full days of 75 degrees and sunshine, the END of my shopping freeze, and the arrival of two of my besties in town. Could there be a better recipe for a girls' weekend? I think not. Here is what I'd like to be rocking at some point over the next 3 days for a fun girls night out.

Dress / Earrings / Ring / Clutch / Spike Bracelet / Coral Bracelet / Cuff / Watch

Of course I'm linking up with {long distance loving} for Friday's Fancies. Hop on over and see what everyone else is rocking this weekend!

I hope you all enjoy the long weekend and make it count!

Olive Oxfords

August is coming to a close, and we're nearing the transition into Fall. Bring on the pumpkin spice lattes, because this girl is ALL for it. One of my favorite trends as of late is dresses worn with oxfords.  This will be a perfect outfit for the transitioning seasons. The dress will keep you cool, but the oxfords will keep you in season. And if it gets a little cooler, just throw on a blazer or jacket and you're good to go. Just perfect for those high 60/low 70 degree days! Here are a few lovely ladies who are rocking the look.



Images: 1 / 2 / 3

Now before you get all sorts of confused as to why there are no olive-colored oxfords shown, what I actually meant was "Olive oxfords" like "Olive juice". If you don't get it, google it. Moving on...

I currently have a gray pair of oxfords, but I'd LOVE to own a tan or brown pair as well. For instance, any of these would work...

1 / 2 / 3

Which ones would you go with?

Also, be sure to check out Stephene's blog, Houndstooth & High Heels today! Yours truly took the pictures :)

Free Photo Sessions

When I lived in Indiana, I did some freelance portrait photography.  Since moving to Boston, continuing on this endeavor has proved to be challenging. When you don't know as many people, it's difficult to build a client base.

So, what's my solution? For the month of September, I will do any 1-2 hour portrait session for FREE. Along with this, you will receive a disc with 30 edited and enhanced photos from which you can print, upload, and do with whatever you please. So seriously, any kind of pictures you want - engagement, family photos, newborn photos, maternity, senior, children's photos, or photos just for the hay of it. Anything at all, I'm your girl. Of course, I do live in Boston, and I don't have a car, so keep this in mind. I would be willing to meet you anywhere in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, or where ever the T will take me to photograph you and your loved ones.  In my opinion, natural light photography is the most flattering, so I would prefer to do most photos outside.  There are plenty of picturesque places in and around Boston so finding a location shouldn't be a problem.

So, Boston friends, if you don't need photos done, PLEASE tell your friends, family, and co-workers about this! And non-Boston friends, if you have friends or family in the area, I would be forever grateful if you passed the message along.  I will do as many sessions as I have time for. First come, first serve :) Here are some examples of my previous portrait work.  I don't want to toot my own horn, but I've learned A LOT about photography since taking these photos.  And none of these photos were taken with the lens that currently rocks my world. So take these with a grain of salt.

If you or anyone you know is interested, please email me at morgan.stone1@gmail.com.  I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with some of you!

It's College-Missing Season

It's so strange. I loved college and everything that came with it, but as I've discussed before, I don't miss it. I love where I'm at in life and never miss it. Never, except for right now. Back to school time. It makes me miss my alma mater terribly. And I don't just miss the "fun" aspects of it, I actually miss going to class. Yes, you read that right. GOING TO CLASS.  Call me a nerd, but I miss it. 

After thinking about this once-a-year yearning for school, I think I've pinpointed a few things that fuel my desire.

With my brother just beginning his college journey, it takes me back to that time in my life. As a freshman, you have SO much lying ahead of you. There are an infinite number of incredible opportunities just waiting for you take advantage of.   At 18, you have no idea what the next four years will hold for you. You have the power to shape and mold those four years into what you want them to be. It's such an amazing time for discovering more about yourself and making your life into what you want it to be.

On some level, the beginning of every school year brings with it a chance to start over. There are new classes to excel in, new friends to be met, and new experiences to indulge in.  The start of a new year means you get to make it what you want. There's a freshness to it that's exciting and wonderful.

No, I'm serious. Who doesn't love picking out that outfit? The one that leaves its mark. The one you'll remember for years to come. The one through which you express what this year is about for you and the person you want to be. The first day of school outfit is more than just an outfit. It's a statement. I hope I'm not alone here or I will undoubtedly sound crazy.  

There's something freeing about the college schedule.  Whether you're a morning person or an evening person, you can (for the most part) tailor your schedule to what works best for you and your personality. In most real-world jobs that is simply NOT going to happen.  So sometimes I miss having something other than a 9-5 Monday-Friday schedule.  Routine is nice, but it's also nice to break free from it every now and then.


And so, September will fly by us and with it will go my longing for my college years.  In all reality, I'm thankful that I had an experience that was so wonderful that it makes me miss the most mundane things like going to class. On the same note, I'm thankful that I've had such an incredible post-college experience that I don't feel the need to long for my college days all year long or to scream "Don't graduate!!" to all of the undergrads.  There is a beautiful world out there to discover, and college is just the beginning of it.

The Weekend: Concert Edition

Excuse me? Where did the weekend go? Thank God the upcoming one is 3 days long, because this one flew by in the blink of an eye!

Friday: Ahhh, the concert. It.was.AWESOME. Not that you can go wrong with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, but it did not disappoint. I will never tire of seeing either of these two perform. 

Saturday: After some errand running, we took a blanket down to the Charles and did some relaxing.  The little hint of a rainbow you see in the fifth picture joined us.

Sunday: Post-church, we walked a bit through Cambridge on our way to Davis Square in Somerville.  We made a pit stop in one of the buildings at MIT where I snapped a shot of a light on the ceiling (just in case you were wondering what on earth that photo was). After our visit to Davis Square, we lounged around Harvard Medical School.  It's beautiful, but it's also under construction so I didn't get any blog-worthy pictures.  The last picture was taken there, but clearly you can't see the buildings. I just liked that I could see myself in the bf's glasses.

So really, other than the concert, it was a pretty low-key and non-picturesque weekend.  What was the best part of your weekend?

Linking up, per the usual!

Have a great Monday!

Shoot.Edit.Submit. | Week 2

I captured this shot in the Boston Public Garden.  The garden is so well maintained and landscaped, and the hibiscus flowers are too beautiful not to snap a shot or two of.

  

I'm linking up with Mom Tried it for Shoot.Edit.Submit. Hop on over there to check out some beautiful photos!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Concert Style

Tonight is the night I redeem part of last year's Christmas present from the bf. Yes, it's August. I know. But this present... it's well worth waiting for. I, my friends, will be slipping into my cowboy boots and goin' country for the Brothers of the Sun Tour this evening. For those non-country music fans out there, Brothers of the Sun=Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw. If you're still feeling lost, I can't help you.

Tonight marks my sixth Kenny Chesney concert and my second Tim McGraw.  My sister and I attended 2008's concert in the sandbar. In other words, we could see the beads of sweat on Mr. Chesney's face. My dog (now my parent's dog) is named Chesney.  It's a problem. This being said, I'm no stranger to a country music concert. So what does one need when attending an event such as this? Allow me to line up the necessities for you.

dress / necklace / tank / shorts / crossbody bag / camera / boots

A dress or denim shorts paired with cowboy boots is a MUST. When else can you feel completely appropriate in cowboy boots? Seize the moment, friends. Wear them.

A crossbody bag is essential for those of us who enjoy cutting a rug whilst concerting. I don't know if that's you, but it certainly is me.  You may break a sweat doing all of the rug cutting, so having a hair tie on hand is perfect when you need to remove that sweaty hair from your neck. 

Camera. Duh. Who's going to miss this photo op? Not me. Also, bevs and snacks are necessities for tailgating pre-concert.  

Oh, and I was serious about seeing KC's sweat beads. Here's proof:

The quality isn't the best, but you get the point. So tell me friends, what are your concert-going essentials?

I didn't follow the road trip theme, obvi, but I'm still linking up for Friday's Fancies. If you're road tripping soon check out {long distance loving} for some fashion inspiration!

Shop For a Cause

I am all for supporting a good cause. And when supporting that good cause also means that I not only get to go shopping, but I also get to SAVE money while doing it, you better believe I am all over that.

Massachusetts friends, you want in on this little secret. Trust me. For just $5, you can purchase a savings pass to Macy's and shop your little heart out on Saturday, August 25th. Two stores will also accept the passes on Friday, August 24th:  the Downtown Boston location (450 Washington Street) and the Berkshire location (170 Old State Road, Lanesboro). 

So what does this little pass get you? Here are the deets:

• 25% off of regular, sale, and clearance items including home
• 10% off furniture and mattresses

With that being said, you'll get that $5 back VERY quickly!

And the best part about this is that 100% of the proceeds go towards a wonderful organization, the March of Dimes.  The March of Dimes works to prevent birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality, and also advance maternal and health research.  So that $5 is going to help more babies have a healthy start in life. What's not to love about that?!

Here are just a few of the things I'd love to add to my fall wardrobe for 25% off come Saturday.





Bracelet / Clutch / Blazer / Blouse / Red Denim / Leopard Smoking Flats / Studded Smoking Flats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Wouldn't these pieces be great to start out your fall wardrobe with? Go {here} to scoop up your savings pass and get your hands on all the fun fall trends for 25% off!

This post (+ my sharing on social media) was inspired by my participation in a compensated program initiated by Women Online/The Mission List to raise awareness about the March of Dimes/Macy's charitable fundraiser.  All commentary, opinions, and fabulous finds are, of course, my own.

A Birthday Celebration

See that pretty gal in the picture with me? That's my sister, bff, and the only reason I want to have at least two girls when I have babies. And why am I telling you this? Because it's her birthday! Twenty-third to be exact.

Growing up we did our fair share of fighting, as two young siblings will do. Throughout the fighting, my mom would tell us that we would be best friends someday. My 12-year-old self found this hard to believe, but I soon came to find out that Mom was right.

God could not have blessed me more with the sister He gave me. I feel so lucky to not only have a sister, but to have one that I am so close to. One who I can confide in and trust with anything. One whose shoulder I can cry on. One who will act absolutely ridiculous with me when needed. One who thinks that my quirky sense of humor is actually funny. And most importantly, one who loves me unconditionally. 

I think as you grow older you start to realize that relationships like these are not the norm.  They are rare and should be treasured.

So, happy birthday, Lauren!! You are a beautiful person, inside and out.  I feel so blessed and thankful to have had an amazing person such as yourself in my life for the past 23 years. I love you!

p.s. I totally remember what I was wearing 23 years ago today (a light pink frilly jumpsuit type outfit with a big pink bow). So fashionable.

Lo & Sons: Claremont vs. Melrose

The fact that I love my camera and all its bells and whistles should come as a surprise to no one.  It's not exactly enjoyable to lug around everywhere, but hey, it comes with the territory.  One thing that would make it a bit more enjoyable to tote around though, would be something other than the big, boxy, not-so-pretty bag it currently resides in.

Enter Lo & Sons. They have two camera bags that aren't just tolerable, they're beautiful. For starters, they don't look like camera bags.  They look like actual bags that a non-photographer would carry. Need I say more? I'll let the bags speak for themselves.

 {all photos via Lo & Sons}

The first bag pictured is The Claremont and the second is The Melrose. The inside of both bags are padded and have a compartment for both the body with an attached lense and one compartment for an additional lense.

The same thing that draws me to The Melrose also draws me away from it - the trendiness. Sure, backpack purses are acceptable right now, but I think we all remember how long they stuck around last time, right? 

So, what do you think? Are you a Claremont gal or a Melrose gal? Or maybe you're a neither gal? Let me know what your thoughts are!

The Weekend: Ridin' Solo Edition

Happy start of a new week, friends! I hope you're all feeling rested and rejuvenated after the weekend. As I was planning to, I did get a lot of "me" time in. Here's how it went down.

Friday: Got my hair did. That's it. Seriously.

Saturday: I was up and at 'em at 6:15. I have a problem with sleeping in. Because I'm so excellent at waking up early, I rewarded myself with a pedicure. That's right. You get presents around here for waking up early. In the middle of said pedicure, pedicurist says, "You want a pedicure?".   WHAT? I thought that's what was happening on my feet right now? I just said yes, and went along with it while feeling confused.

Afterwards, I met Stephene for an Intoxi-cake martini at Max Brenner. If you follow me on Instagram, you saw the liquid delicousness, and oh my, was it ever intoxi-caking. If you ever get the chance, PLEASE treat yourself to one. You're awesome and you deserve it.

Post-martini and watching a crime show or 3 (guilty pleasure), I decided to take my camera for a walk. We ended up walking for about 2 hours where I snapped the pictures you see above.  I got reacquainted with my macro lens. We had forgotten how much we like each other. 

Sunday: I slept in til 7! Holy smokes. I then went to church, cleaned the apartment, did some grocery shopping, spontaneously decided to give z blog a small facelift, and treated myself to a homemade mac n' cheese dinner. I'm five-years-old at heart and it sounded good, k?

And that'll just about do it, kids.  If you like any of the pictures above, they're all for sale on society6. Shop your heart out :) As a sidenote, if there's ever a picture that you'd like to purchase, but you'd rather have it in black and white or vice versa, let me know and I'll be happy to make the changes and add it to the shop for you!

Linking up with these lovely gals for the Weekend Update!